Technology

Mesirow Expands Alternative Credit Team with Three Strategic Hires

Published

1 year ago

March 24, 2025

Investment in team follows Mesirow’s December 2024 acquisition of Bastion Management, now operating as Mesirow Alternative Credit.New hires bring deep expertise in asset-backed specialty finance, deal origination, structuring, strategic partnerships and client relationship management.Mesirow continues to expand its differentiated alternative investment solutions for institutional and high-net-worth investors.

CHICAGO, March 24, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Mesirow, an independent, employee-owned financial services firm, is pleased to announce the expansion of its Alternative Credit team with three strategic hires. This growth reinforces Mesirow’s commitment to providing institutional and high-net-worth investors with an increasing number of differentiated alternative investment offerings.

The new hires follow Mesirow’s December 2024 acquisition of Bastion Management, a leading asset-backed lender now operating as Mesirow Alternative Credit:

Nicholas Paidas joins as Director, Capital Markets and Sourcing, leading efforts in deal origination, structuring, and strategic partnerships. He brings extensive experience in capital markets, having previously held senior roles at Yieldstreet and Mission Capital Advisors, where he specialized in Private Credit and Specialty Finance structuring, underwriting, and originations.Servia Rindfleish has been appointed Client Portfolio Manager, leveraging 14 years of investment management experience. In this role, she will drive business development efforts, focusing on building and strengthening partnerships with existing and prospective clients, LPs, consultants and other investor classes.Bryce Labonski joins as Associate, Asset Management, bringing expertise in portfolio monitoring and unit economic modeling.

“We are pleased to welcome Nicholas, Servia and Bryce to the team,” said Jay Braden, CEO and Co-Chief Investment Officer of Mesirow Alternative Credit. “We look forward to their contributions as we continue to offer clients strong return potential and top-tier client service.”

Since its inception in 2013, the Alternative Credit team has successfully closed over 50 transactions, committing more than $2 billion to both traditional consumer lending platforms and emerging fintech companies. Under the leadership of Jay Braden; Tim Joyce, Co-Chief Investment Officer; and Tim Reimink, Head of Asset Management, the Alternative Credit team will continue to provide creative solutions to small and mid-sized businesses in the alternative finance space across North America and the UK.

Beyond Alternative Credit, Mesirow remains focused on its established Private Capital and Currency platform, which includes Mesirow Currency Management, Mesirow Private Equity and Mesirow Institutional Real Estate Direct Investments. Additionally, the firm continues to grow its wealth management, fiduciary services, and capital markets/investment banking offerings.

As of December 31, 2024, Mesirow had $306.2B in total assets under supervision.1

About Mesirow
Mesirow is an independent, employee-owned financial services firm founded in 1937. Headquartered in Chicago, with offices around the world, we serve clients through a personal, custom approach to reaching financial goals and acting as a force for social good. With capabilities spanning Global Investment Management, Capital Markets & Investment Banking, and Advisory Services, we invest in what matters: our clients, our communities and our culture. To learn more, visit mesirow.com, follow us on LinkedIn and subscribe to Spark, our quarterly newsletter.

Mesirow has been named one of the Best Places to Work in Chicago by Crain’s Chicago Business multiple times and is one of Barron’s Top 100 RIA firms.

Media
mediainquiries@mesirow.com
Michael Herley | 203.308.1409

Mesirow refers to Mesirow Financial Holdings, Inc. and its divisions, subsidiaries and affiliates. The Mesirow name and logo are registered service marks of Mesirow Financial Holdings, Inc., © 2025, Mesirow Financial Holdings, Inc. All rights reserved. Investment management services provided through Mesirow Financial Investment Management, Inc., Mesirow Institutional Investment Management, Inc. and Mesirow Financial Private Equity Advisors, Inc., all SEC-registered investment advisor, a CFTC registered commodity trading advisors and member of the NFA, or Mesirow Financial International UK, Ltd. (“MFIUK”), authorized and regulated by the FCA, depending on the jurisdiction.

As of 12.31.2024 unless otherwise noted. | 1. “Assets under supervision” includes regulatory assets under management; assets under advisement; and non-securities currency assets under management. For these purposes: (1) regulatory assets under management (“RAUM”) is calculated in accordance with Instruction 5A of Form ADV and includes all assets of securities portfolios (both discretionary and non-discretionary). (2) Some assets under advisement (“AUA”) are on a 45-to-90-day lag due to time needed to confirm away assets. (3) Currency assets under management includes AUM associated with (i) active and passive currency risk management products $175.23 billion, (ii) non-fx overlay strategies such as equitization and beta overlays $885.03 million, and (iii) alpha strategies $1.57 billion. In all such cases, AUM is calculated based on notional value of currency investments. Additionally, AUM for alpha strategies is adjusted because clients can select a volatility target (generally between 2% and 12% annualized), which is normalized to 2% in order to create a consistent depiction of alpha strategy AUM. This results in a “scaled” AUM, which is higher than the actual aggregate notional value of all alpha strategy portfolios if clients have selected a volatility target higher than 2%. As of 12.31.2024, the “unscaled” AUM for alpha strategies was $365.38 million.

Mesirow refers to Mesirow Financial Holdings, Inc. and its divisions, subsidiaries and affiliates. The Mesirow name and logo are registered service marks of Mesirow Financial Holdings, Inc. © 2025. All rights reserved. The information contained herein has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable but is not necessarily complete and its accuracy cannot be guaranteed. Any opinions expressed are subject to change without notice. It should not be assumed that any recommendations incorporated herein will be profitable or will equal past performance. Any targeted returns mentioned herein will not necessarily be achieved and materially different returns may be achieved. Nothing contained herein constitutes an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy an interest in any Mesirow investment vehicle. Any offer can only be made to qualified, institutional, eligible contract participant, or accredited investors through the appropriate Offering Memorandum which contains important information concerning risk factors and other material aspects of the investment and should be read carefully before an investment decision is made. Mesirow does not provide legal or tax advice. Securities offered by Mesirow Financial, Inc. member FINRA and SIPC. Mesirow Financial International UK, Ltd., authorized and regulated by the FCA, depending on the jurisdiction. Investment advisory services offered through Mesirow Financial Investment Management, Inc., Mesirow Institutional Investment Management, Inc., Mesirow Financial Private Equity Advisors, Inc., and Mesirow RE- IA, Inc., all SEC-registered investment advisers. If you are not the intended recipient, you are strictly prohibited from disclosing, copying, distributing or using any of this information. If you received this communication in error, please contact the sender immediately and destroy the material in its entirety, whether electronic or hard copy. Confidential, proprietary or time-sensitive communications should not be transmitted via the Internet, as there can be no assurance of actual or timely delivery, receipt and/or confidentiality.

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Technology

VYLIT OPENS ITS CREATOR ADVISORY BOARD, GIVING CREATORS EQUITY IN THE PLATFORM

Published

54 minutes ago

July 23, 2026

Reality star & chef Dom DeAngelis, model & creator Cydney Moreau, and creator-entrepreneur Crystal Jackson named as founding members, with applications now open for creators who want a voice in how the platform is shaped

MIAMI, July 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Vylit, the 18+ creator-first social platform co-founded by Ami Gan, former CEO of OnlyFans, and seasoned entrepreneur Kailey Magder, is opening applications for its Creator Advisory Board, which will include a select group of creators that will have a strong voice in shaping the platform they use and earn on.

Vylit is inviting creators not just to join the platform, but to help build it, with real shares in the company reserved for those who contribute to its growth, culture and direction. The Creator Advisory Board will give creators a direct voice in building Vylit’s community, the platform’s development and creator tools, along with ownership in the business they’re helping grow.

Applications are now open. Creators can apply by emailing vylit@vylitworld.com with their name, bio and social handles.

Vylit is launching the board with three founding members who show the range of creators it’s built for.

Dominic DeAngelis, known from YouTube and Vanderpump Villa, where his culinary skills earned recognition from viewers around the world, has been using the platform to share behind-the-scenes and day-in-the-life content with his subscribers — the kind of direct, monetized relationship with fans that Vylit is designed around.

“Social media sucks right now. The algorithms are negative, you don’t even see the people you follow anymore, and creators are struggling to find real connections with their fans,” said DeAngelis. “I’m thrilled to be part of a platform that’s doing it differently. Vylit is actually listening to creators and building with us, not just for us.”

Cydney Moreau, a Louisiana-born former track athlete turned model and creator with a following across fitness, fashion and lifestyle, balances her work with life as a mom. Vylit is where she’s turning that following into a business for the first time, on her own terms.

“As someone who is monetizing my content for the first time, knowing that I will have a say in how the platform treats other creators means everything,” said Moreau. “It’s not every day a platform actually wants creators in the room while they’re building it. Knowing Vylit is making decisions with our interests at heart gives me the confidence to build here, and I’m excited to help shape where this goes.”

Crystal Jackson, known to millions of followers as Mrs. Poindexter, is the co-founder of EssentL, a company building business infrastructure and benefits for creators. A former engineer turned multi-platform creator and entrepreneur, she brings an operator’s understanding of what creators actually need from the platforms they build on.

“I’ve spent years building an audience and a business across platforms that weren’t built for today’s creator ecosystem,” said Jackson. “What drew me to Vylit is that they’re handing creators actual ownership and a real say in the decisions that affect us. That’s not something I’ve seen anyone else do, and I want to help build it right.”

Since launching, Vylit has positioned itself as the “HBO of social media,” a space between traditional social media and adult subscription platforms, where creators can be expressive, marketable and in control. The Creator Advisory Board takes that further. Rather than building the platform for creators and handing it over, Vylit is building it with them, giving them direct ownership and a say in its direction.

“The users driving value should have a say in the business,” said Ami Gan, Co-Founder and CEO of Vylit. “Creators understand culture and digital monetization better than anyone. At Vylit, that expertise earns them a real seat at the table.”

“We didn’t want to build another platform where creators show up after the fact,” added Kailey Magder, Co-Founder and COO of Vylit. “We want them involved from day one, shaping the product, the community and the direction of the business.”

Vylit truly puts creators in charge, giving them real ownership and a direct say in how the platform evolves. The Creator Advisory Board is just the start.

To learn more, visit https://vylitworld.com/

To access the media kit, click here.

ABOUT VYLIT
Vylit is an 18+ creator-first social platform redefining how adults share, discover and monetize content. Co-founded by Amrapali (Ami) Gan and Kailey Magder, Vylit was created to fill the gap between traditional social media and creator platforms, offering a premium digital experience for expression. Built as “the HBO of social media,” the platform allows topless content while prohibiting explicit material, giving creators greater freedom. Vylit combines social connectivity with built-in monetization, interest-based discovery through its Vybe Matching Engine, and in-house AI Image Generation and Chat tools designed for its users. Learn more at www.vylitworld.com.

FOR PRESS INQUIRIES
pr@vylitworld.com

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Technology

CNBC Names PayJoy one of the World’s Top FinTech Companies of 2026

Published

54 minutes ago

July 23, 2026

Recognition highlights PayJoy’s leadership in emerging market consumer finance

SAN FRANCISCO, July 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — CNBC and Statista have named PayJoy to the “World’s Top Fintech Companies 2026,” which honors companies providing digital funding and bank-independent lending solutions for individuals and businesses. PayJoy is a leading financial services provider for underserved consumers across emerging markets.

Now in its fourth edition, the ranking identifies 500 leading companies across eight fintech market segments worldwide, including Payments, Neobanking, Wealth Technology, Digital Assets, Enterprise Fintech, Insurtech, Regtech, and Alternative Financing. Companies were evaluated using an aggregated scoring model built on both general and segment-specific KPIs, drawing on desk research from publicly available sources alongside company self-reports submitted through an open application process.

PayJoy’s inclusion reflects its work bringing credit access to the emerging middle class in Mexico, Colombia, Brazil, Panama, Peru, Ecuador, South Africa, the Philippines, and Indonesia, nine countries where traditional financial infrastructure has long excluded first-time borrowers.

“This recognition from CNBC and Statista is a meaningful validation of the work our team does every day,” said Doug Ricket, PayJoy CEO and Co-Founder. “Millions of people across the markets we serve are building credit for the first time through PayJoy. Being named among the world’s top fintech companies reflects the scale and impact of that work.”

For more information on the full ranking, visit https://www.cnbc.com/worlds-top-fintech-companies-2026/

About PayJoy
PayJoy expands credit access across emerging markets through point-of-sale financing and card offerings. Its proprietary secured-credit technology enables first-time borrowers to responsibly build financial stability and participate fully in the modern economy. Through its cutting-edge machine learning, data science, and anti-fraud AI, PayJoy has financed over $3.5 billion of loans to more than 20 million people and employs over 1,000 people worldwide. For more information, visit https://www.payjoy.com/

Contact
payjoy@thekeypr.com

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SOURCE PayJoy

Technology

Youngstown Innovation Hub Breaks Ground at YBI’s 107 Building

Published

54 minutes ago

July 23, 2026

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio, July 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — As the United States works to strengthen its aerospace and defense manufacturing base, the Youngstown Innovation Hub for Aerospace & Defense broke ground today on YBI‘s 107 Building in downtown Youngstown, positioning the region as a national proving ground for advanced and additive manufacturing. The Hub is managed by the National Center for Defense Manufacturing and Machining (NCDMM).

Youngstown Innovation Hub for Aerospace & Defense breaks ground at YBI’s 107 Building.

The Hub is one of four Innovation Hubs established across Ohio as part of a statewide initiative to strengthen innovation-driven economic growth. Once complete, it is projected to generate approximately $161.6 million in economic impact, create 450 new jobs, and produce 185 new STEM credential opportunities and 40 internship opportunities by 2029.

The groundbreaking comes as Ohio was recently ranked the No. 1 state for business in America by CNBC’s 2026 America’s Top States for Business rankings, up from No. 5 in 2025.

Ohio Lt. Governor Jim Tressel attended and delivered remarks at the ceremony.

“Today is about more than renovating a building. It’s about building opportunity for Ohioans,” said Lt. Governor Tressel. “The Mahoning Valley has always been defined by the people who make things, solve problems, and never stop working toward a better future. This Innovation Hub builds on that proud tradition while preparing the next generation for in-demand careers in manufacturing.”

Hub and YBI leadership also spoke at the ceremony.

“Today’s groundbreaking of the Youngstown Innovation Hub represents much more than the start of a building renovation. It reflects what can happen when state, regional, industry, academic, and community partners come together around a shared vision for the future of manufacturing, aerospace and defense innovation,” said Megan Malara, Ph.D., director of the Youngstown Innovation Hub.

The renovation is made possible in part by a $750,000 state capital investment. Ohio State Sen. Al Cutrona and state Rep. Lauren McNally were credited with helping advance the funding request through the legislative process. YBI also recognized the broader Lake to River legislative delegation, including state Reps. Nick Santucci, Tex Fischer, Monica Robb Blasdel, Dave Thomas, and Sarah Fowler Arthur, for their support, as well as U.S. Sens. Jon Husted and Bernie Moreno for their support of the project in the U.S. Senate.

Speakers at the ceremony included Ohio Lt. Gov. Jim Tressel; Lydia Mihalik, director of the Ohio Department of Development; Mary Mertz, director of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources; Julius Oliver, 1st Ward Councilman for the City of Youngstown; State Sen. Al Cutrona; State Rep. Nick Santucci; State Rep. Lauren McNally; and Megan Malara, Ph.D., director of the Youngstown Innovation Hub. Barb Ewing, CEO of YBI, served as master of ceremonies.

The City of Youngstown, which committed $1.35 million in local matching funds to the project, was represented at the ceremony. John Wilczynski, executive director of America Makes, attended, and Barb Ewing recognized Kimberly Gibson and Alexander Steeb of America Makes for their roles in advancing the project.

Upon completion, the five-story, 130,000-square-foot concrete-framed building will offer flexible space for offices, workspaces, and display areas, along with robust power capacity to support multiple high-demand tenants. The building’s security features, including limited access points and naturally separated manufacturing bays, are designed to meet U.S. Department of War contracting criteria, positioning tenants to compete directly for federal defense work.

“It’s great to finally be transitioning from talking about this project to actually working on it. We appreciate all the support we’ve had from our political leaders and the community. YBI is proud to be a part of the project team that’s changing the trajectory of the Mahoning Valley,” said Barb Ewing, CEO of YBI.

Companies looking to expand, relocate, or enter the aerospace and defense manufacturing sector are encouraged to visit the Youngstown Innovation Hub website at youngstownhub.us.

About the Youngstown Innovation Hub for Aerospace & Defense

Managed by the National Center for Defense Manufacturing and Machining (NCDMM), the Youngstown Innovation Hub is a national proving ground for advanced and additive manufacturing, strengthening U.S. aerospace and defense supply chains and workforce development. Learn more at youngstownhub.us.

About YBI

YBI is a globally recognized economic development nonprofit, advancing innovation and growth across Ohio and beyond. Through a flexible suite of high-quality entrepreneurial services and resources, YBI supports startups, small businesses, and manufacturers at every stage of development. For more information, visit ybi.org.

Media Contact:
Jessica Sprowl, Marketing and Communications Director, YBI
jsprowl@ybi.org

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